Athletic shorts

ABSTRACT

Embodiments presented herein provide athletic shorts having an integral pocket operable to stabilize motion of cargo contained therein. In accordance with the embodiments presented herein, a pocket defined by a pocket assembly is substantially stabilized from anterior/posterior movement when the athletic shorts are worn during exercise by the extended sewing edge provided by the pocket assembly superior edge that extends significantly beyond the pattern defining the pocket in combination with the panel of material defined between the pocket and the pocket assembly anterior edge and the pocket assembly posterior edge that extend from the pocket assembly superior edge at downward angles towards an apex.

FIELD

The present invention is related generally to articles of apparel, andin particular, to athletic shorts which are suitable for use by male andfemale wearers.

BACKGROUND

It is common that exercise enthusiasts such as runners wear athleticshorts that comprise a textile outer shell and an integral inner liner.Both the outer shell and the inner liner define a waistband and two legapertures. The outer shell is commonly tailored to provide a very loosefit to allow for unrestricted movement of the legs and the underlyingmuscles of the lower body. The inner liner is commonly provided toprovide support to the male reproductive anatomy as well as a modestyfeature. The inner liner may be shaped as trunks or as briefs. It iscommon that only the waistband of the inner liner is sewn into thewaistband of the outer shell creating an integral garment that is fixedat the waistband but provides separate mobility away from the waistband,with the inner liner hanging from the waistband of the outer shell.

With the advent of portable electronic devices such as radios, cellphones, and media players, athletes have been provided limited ways tocarry such devices while exercising.

It is known that athletic shorts may be provided with a smallrectangular pocket, referred to as a key pocket, which is sewn along atop edge into the waistband of the inner liner and hangs therefrom. Thekey pocket is located between the user's leg and the inner liner. Thekey pocket may have a fold-over opening at the waistline. The key pocketis usually sized to just accommodate a very small item such as a key ora few coins. The key pocket simply hangs from the waistband much likethe inner liner. Some athletic shorts provide side pockets that may holdlarger items. They are usually pockets having a generalized rectangularshape that extend from a side seam in the hip or leg portion of theouter shell and hang therefrom between the outer shell and the user'sleg.

Whether it is the key pocket or the side pocket, during exercise, suchas running, the pocket containing a relatively heavy object, such as aportable electronic device, will tend to swing in a lateral and/oranterior/posterior motion. This motion is undesirable for many reasons,such as, but not limited to, being distracting to the person, causingchafing of the leg, potential shock damage to the device, and potentialejection of the electronic device from the pocket.

It would therefore be desirable to provide athletic shorts that securelyhold a portable electronic device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way oflimitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which likereferences may indicate similar elements throughout the various figuresunless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a pair of athletic shorts shown in position ona wearer, in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a posterior view of a pair of athletic shorts shown inposition on a wearer, in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 3 is a side partial cut-way view of a pair of improved athleticshorts shown in position on a wearer in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a posterior partial cut-way view of the pair of improvedathletic shorts in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front view of an embodiment of a pocket assembly wherein thepocket assembly comprises a first fabric piece and a second fabricpiece;

FIG. 6 is a front view of another embodiment of a pocket assemblywherein the pocket assembly comprises a first fabric piece and a thirdfabric piece, wherein the third fabric piece is of a rectangular patternsubstantially sized as the resulting pocket;

FIG. 7 is a side partial cut-way view of a pair of improved athleticshorts shown in position on a wearer in accordance with anotherembodiment;

FIG. 8 is a posterior partial cut-way view of the pair of improvedathletic shorts shown in position on a wearer in accordance with theembodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of the improved athletic shortsshowing the outer layer, inner liner and pocket assembly in accordancewith the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the improved athletic shortsshowing the outer layer, inner liner and pocket assembly in accordancewith an embodiment wherein the inner liner and the pocket assembly arecoupled together;

FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view of the improved athletic shortsshowing the outer layer, inner liner and pocket assembly in accordancewith an embodiment wherein the pocket assembly is between the innerliner and the outer layer;

FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional view of the improved athletic shortsshowing the outer layer, inner liner and pocket assembly in accordancewith another embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view of the improved athletic shortsshowing the outer layer, inner liner and pocket assembly in accordancewith another embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a side cross-sectional view of the improved athletic shortsshowing the outer layer, inner liner and pocket assembly in accordancewith another embodiment;

FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a double pocketassembly that comprises two pocket assemblies integrally coupled about awaistband;

FIG. 16 shows a posterior partial cut-way view of a pair of improvedathletic shorts comprising the double pocket assembly shown in positionon a wearer; and

FIG. 17 shows a front view of another embodiment of a pocket assemblywherein the pocket the pocket is orientated on a bias away from avertical orientation so as to be substantially parallel with theanterior edge of the pocket assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, embodiments of apparatus and methods willbe disclosed. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials,and/or configurations are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the embodiments. However, it will also be apparent tothose skilled in the art that the embodiments may be practiced withoutone or more of the specific details, or with other approaches,materials, components, etc. In other instances, well-known structures,materials, and/or operations are not shown and/or described in detail toavoid obscuring the embodiments. Accordingly, in some instances,features are omitted and/or simplified in order to not obscure thedisclosed embodiments. Furthermore, it is understood that theembodiments shown in the figures are illustrative representations andare not necessarily drawn to scale.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment is includedin at least one embodiment of claimed subject matter. Thus, theappearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “an embodiment” invarious places throughout this specification are not necessarily allreferring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features,structures, or characteristics may be combined in one or moreembodiments.

Reference will now be made to embodiments illustrated in the drawingsand specific language which will be used to describe the same. It willnevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications ofthe illustrated embodiments and further applications of the principlesof the invention, as would normally occur to one skilled in the art towhich the invention relates, are also within the scope of the invention.

The following embodiments are described referencing novel elements addedto athletic shorts of conventional construction. Athletic shorts ofconventional construction comprise an outer layer and an inner liner. Itis anticipated and understood that the novel elements may beincorporated in athletic shorts of other construction without departingfrom the scope of the invention.

The present invention teaches athletic shorts with one or more pocketsthat permit the containment of cargo, such as, but not limited to aportable electronic device, and substantially prevents the cargo andpocket from swinging in a lateral and/or anterior/posterior motion whilefacilitating relatively unrestricted flexion and extension of the legs.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a side view and posterior view, respectively, of apair of athletic shorts 10 shown in position on a wearer 20 inaccordance with the prior art. The athletic shorts 10 have an outerlayer 30 and an integral inner liner 40 shown by dashed line. The outerlayer 30 has an outer layer superior edge 32 defining a waistline 34.The inner liner 40 has an inner liner superior edge 42. The inner linersuperior edge 42 may be coupled in functional relation with the outerlayer 30 by sewing stitches or other conventional means along thewaistline 34 adjacent the outer layer superior edge 32, thus permittingthe inner liner 40 to float relatively freely within the outer layer 30of the athletic shorts 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the approximate locationof an inferior edge 48 of a posterior portion 49 of the inner liner 40is shown by dashed line.

As shown, a conventional horizontal waistline 34 comprises a retentionmeans 36 that extends substantially continuously along the circumferenceof the waistline 34. The athletic shorts 10 may be retained about theindividual's abdomen 22 by retention means 36, such as string draw,elastic, button and hole, or other mechanical means, whether in partialor complete combination.

The outer layer 30 of the athletic shorts 10 may be made of naturalfibers such as cotton, or synthetic fibers such as nylon, polyester,polypropylene, or various blends of natural and synthetic fibers.Manufacturers of suitable fabrics include Burlington Industries, Inc. ofHurt, Va., Milliken Research Corporation of Spartanburg, N.C., and Yagi& Co., Ltd., of Osaka, Japan.

The inner liner 40 may substantially consist of a resilient orstretchlastic material including natural fibers such as cotton,synthetic fibers such as polyester or polypropylene, nylon, or variousblends of natural and synthetic fibers such as cotton and polyester.LYCRA® brand spandex, or various COOLMAX® textiles made or licensed byE.I. Dupont de Nemours Company can be used, and the like. Further,various textiles made by Milliken Research Corporation of Spartanburg,N.C., Burlington Industries, Inc. of Hurt, Va., or Darlington FabricsCorporation of New York can be used, and the like. A stretchlasticmaterial can consist of two-way, three-way or any other type ofstretchlastic material.

Alternately, the inner liner 40 can partially or substantially consistof a relatively non-stretchlastic material made of cotton, and the like.It can be readily understood that different textile materials made of aparticular material, such as cotton, can exhibit a wide range ofelongation properties and be stretchlastic or non-stretchlastic,depending upon the type and size of the fibers, and also the type andsize of the knit or weave.

The inner liner 40 can also include elastic material bordering the edge44 of openings 46 for accommodating the wearer's legs 26. Alternately,the inner liner 40 need not include elastic material 24 bordering theedge 44 of openings 46 for accommodating the wearer's legs 26.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a side partial cut-way view and a posterior partialcut-way view, respectively, of a pair of improved athletic shorts 12shown in position on a wearer 20 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention. The improved athletic shorts 12 comprises theathletic shorts of the prior art further comprising an integral pocketassembly 50. The pocket assembly 50 defines a generalized triangularshape including a pocket assembly superior edge 54, a pocket assemblyanterior edge 55 and a pocket assembly posterior edge 56. The pocketassembly anterior edge 55 and the pocket assembly posterior edge 56extend from the pocket assembly superior edge 54 at downward anglesdefining an apex 58 so as to create an arcuate or V shapedconfiguration.

The pocket assembly 50 comprises a pocket 52 depending from adjacent thepocket assembly superior edge 54 extending towards the apex 58. FIG. 5shows a front view of an embodiment of a pocket assembly 50 a whereinthe pocket assembly 50 comprises a first fabric piece 51 a substantiallycompletely overlaid by a second fabric piece 51 b with the pocket 52defined by coupling the two fabric pieces 51 a, 51 b together aboutthree sides 59 of a generalized rectangular pattern 57, by way ofexample, but not limited thereto, by sewing stitches 62 or otherconventional means, with a pocket superior edge 53 remaining opendefining a pocket opening 60 operable to accept cargo therethrough. Itis understood and appreciated that the pocket 52 may define othergeometric shapes suitable for a particular purpose, such as, but notlimited to, various shapes of electronic devices.

It is understood and appreciated that the pocket opening 60 may comprisemany configurations, such as, but not limited to, a simple opening asshown and a fold-over flap. It is also understood and appreciated thatthe pocket opening may comprise a closure means such as a zipper,button, hook-and-loop fastener, among many others.

FIG. 6 shows a front view of another embodiment of a pocket assembly 50b wherein the pocket assembly 50 b comprises a first fabric piece 51 apartially overlaid by a third fabric piece 51 c, wherein the thirdfabric piece 51 c is of a generalized rectangular pattern substantiallysized as the resulting pocket 52. The pocket 52 is defined by couplingthe two fabric pieces 51 a, 51 c together about three sides 59 of thethird fabric piece 51 c, by way of example, but not limited thereto, bysewing stitches or other conventional means, with a pocket superior edge53 remaining open defining a pocket opening 60 operable to accept cargotherethrough. It is understood and appreciated that the pocket 52 maydefine other geometric shapes suitable for a particular purpose, suchas, but not limited to, various shapes of electronic devices.

The fabric pieces 51 a, 51 b, 51 c may comprise the same textile orcomprise a first textile material which consists of a relatively lessstretchlastic, or non-stretchlastic material, and a second textilematerial which consists of a relatively stretchlastic material. Whereinat least one of the fabric pieces 51 a, 51 b, 51 c is of a stretchlastictextile material, the pocket 52 may conform to and better retain thecargo placed therein.

Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 4, the pocket assembly superior edge 54may be coupled in functional relation with the inner liner 40 by sewingstitches or other conventional means along the waistline 34 adjacent theouter layer superior edge 32, in accordance with an embodiment. In thisembodiment, the pocket assembly 50 may float relatively freely betweenthe inner liner 40 the wearer's leg 26. FIG. 9 is a partial sidecross-sectional view of the improved athletic shorts 12 a showing theouter layer 30, inner liner 40 and pocket assembly 50 in accordance withthe embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a side partial cut-way view and a posterior partialcut-way view, respectively, of a pair of improved athletic shorts 12shown in position on a wearer 20 in accordance with another embodiment,wherein the pocket assembly 50 is coupled in functional relation withthe inner liner 40 by sewing stitches or other conventional means alongthe waistline 34 and for at least a portion of one or both of the pocketassembly anterior edge 55 and pocket assembly posterior edge 56. In thisembodiment, a substantial portion of the pocket assembly 50 is coupledto the inner liner 40. FIG. 10 is a partial side cross-sectional view ofthe improved athletic shorts 12 b showing the outer layer 30, innerliner 40 and pocket assembly 50 in accordance with the embodiment ofFIGS. 7 and 8 wherein the inner liner 40 and the pocket assembly 50 arecoupled together.

FIG. 11 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the improved athleticshorts 12 c showing the outer layer 30, inner liner 40 and pocketassembly 50 in accordance with another embodiment wherein the pocketassembly 50 is between the inner liner 40 and the outer layer 30. Thepocket assembly 50 is coupled in functional relation with the outerlayer 30 and the inner liner 40 by sewing stitches or other conventionalmeans along the waistline 34 adjacent the outer layer superior edge 32with the pocket assembly 50 extending between the outer layer 30 and theinner liner 40. In accordance with an embodiment, the pocket assembly 50may float relatively freely between the outer layer 30 and the innerliner 40.

FIG. 12 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the improved athleticshorts 12 d showing the outer layer 30, inner liner 40 and pocketassembly 50 in accordance with another embodiment. The pocket assembly50 is coupled in functional relation with the outer layer 30 and theinner liner 40 by sewing stitches or other conventional means along thewaistline 34 adjacent the outer layer superior edge 32 with the pocketassembly 50 extending between the outer layer 30 and the inner liner 40.The pocket assembly 50 is coupled to the inner liner 40 along at least aportion of one or both of the pocket assembly anterior edge 55 andpocket assembly posterior edge 56 by sewing stitches 62.

FIG. 13 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the improved athleticshorts 12 e showing the outer layer 30, inner liner 40 and pocketassembly 50 in accordance with another embodiment. The pocket assembly50 is coupled in functional relation with the outer layer 30 and theinner liner 40 by sewing stitches or other conventional means along thewaistline 34 adjacent the outer layer superior edge 32 with the pocketassembly 50 extending between the outer layer 30 and the inner liner 40.The pocket assembly 50 is coupled to the outer layer 30 along at least aportion of one or both of the pocket assembly anterior edge 55 andpocket assembly posterior edge 56 by sewing stitches 62. Access to thepocket 52 may be made via outer layer opening 33 in the outer layer 30.

FIG. 14 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the improved athleticshorts 12 f showing the outer layer 30, inner liner 40 and pocketassembly 50 in accordance with another embodiment. The pocket assembly50 is coupled in functional relation with the outer layer 30 and theinner liner 40 by sewing stitches or other conventional means along thewaistline 34 adjacent the outer layer superior edge 32 with the pocketassembly 50 extending between the outer layer 30 and the inner liner 40.The pocket assembly 50 is coupled to the outer layer 30 and the innerliner 40 along at least a portion of one or both of the pocket assemblyanterior edge 55 and pocket assembly posterior edge 56 by sewingstitches 62. Access to the pocket 52 may be made via outer layer opening33 in the outer layer 30.

In the above embodiments wherein the pocket assembly 50 is between theouter layer 30 and the inner liner 40, access to the pocket opening 60may be made through an opening (not shown) in the waistline 34, throughan opening 33 in the outer layer 30, or through an opening (not shown)in the inner liner 40.

FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a double pocketassembly 50 c that comprises two pocket assemblies 50 integrally coupleddefining a continuous pocket assembly superior edge 54 a. FIG. 16 showsa posterior partial cut-way view of a pair of improved athletic shorts12 g comprising the double pocket assembly 50 c shown in position on awearer 20. The continuous pocket assembly superior edge 54 a may becoupled in functional relation with the outer layer 30 and inner liner40 by sewing stitches or other conventional means as described for thepocket assembly superior edge 54 of the pocket assembly 50 ofembodiments of FIGS. 3-4 and 9-14.

FIG. 17 shows a side view of another embodiment of a pocket assembly 50d wherein the pocket 52 is orientated on a bias away from a verticalaxis X so as to be substantially parallel with the anterior edge 55 ofthe pocket assembly 50 d.

Referring again to FIG. 5 by way of example, in accordance with theembodiments presented herein, the pocket 52 defined by the pocketassembly 50 is substantially stabilized from anterior/posterior movementwhen the athletic shorts are worn during exercise by the extended sewingedge 80 provided by the pocket assembly superior edge 54 that extendssignificantly beyond the pattern defining the pocket 52 in combinationwith the panel of material 82 defined between the pocket 52 and thepocket assembly anterior edge 55 and the pocket assembly posterior edge56 that extend from the pocket assembly superior edge 54 at downwardangles towards an apex 58 so as to create an arcuate or V shapedconfiguration.

Referring again to FIG. 7 by way of example, in accordance with otherembodiments presented herein, the pocket 52 defined by the pocketassembly 50 is substantially stabilized from anterior/posterior movementby the extended sewing edge 80 provided by the pocket assembly superioredge 54 that extends significantly beyond the pattern of the pocket 52in combination with the panel of material 82 defined between the pocket52 and the pocket assembly anterior edge 55 and the pocket assemblyposterior edge 56 that extend from the pocket assembly superior edge 54at downward angles towards an apex 58 so as to create an arcuate or Vshaped configuration. The pocket assembly 50 is also substantiallystabilized from lateral movement by an extended sewing edge 84 providedby the pocket assembly anterior edge 55 and the pocket assemblyposterior edge 56 being at least partially coupled to either the innerliner 40 and/or the outer layer 30.

The athletic shorts taught in the present embodiments can beadvantageous for casual, recreational, or athletic use, e.g., in suchvaried sports as running, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and tennis.

While the invention has been described in connection with specificembodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of furthermodification, and this application is intended to cover any variations,uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, theprinciples of the invention and including such departures from thepresent disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the artto which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essentialfeatures hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of theinvention and the limits of the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A pair of athletic shorts comprising: an outer layer including an outer layer superior edge defining a waistline; an inner liner comprising an inner liner superior edge coupled to the waistline; and a pocket assembly defining a generalized triangular shape including a pocket assembly superior edge, a pocket assembly anterior edge, and a pocket assembly posterior edge, the pocket assembly anterior edge and the pocket assembly posterior edge extend from the pocket assembly superior edge at downward angles defining an apex, the pocket assembly further comprising a pocket defining a pocket opening operable to accept cargo therein, the pocket depending from adjacent the pocket assembly superior edge extending towards the apex, the pocket assembly superior edge coupled to the waistline such that the pocket assembly hangs therefrom.
 2. The pair of athletic shorts of claim 1 wherein the pocket assembly comprises a first fabric piece substantially completely overlaid by a second fabric piece with the pocket defined by coupling the first fabric piece and second fabric piece together about three sides of a generalized rectangular pattern with a pocket superior edge remaining open defining the pocket opening.
 3. The pair of athletic shorts of claim 1 wherein the pocket assembly comprises a first fabric piece partially overlaid by a third fabric piece, wherein the third fabric piece is of a generalized rectangular pattern substantially sized as the pocket, the pocket being defined by the coupling of the first fabric piece and third fabric piece together about three sides of the third fabric with a pocket superior edge remaining open defining the pocket opening.
 4. The pair of athletic shorts of claim 1 wherein the pocket assembly superior edge is coupled in functional relation with the inner liner along the waistline adjacent the outer layer superior edge wherein the pocket assembly may extend between the inner liner and a leg of a wearer.
 5. The pair of athletic shorts of claim 1 wherein the pocket assembly superior edge is coupled in functional relation with the inner liner along the waistline adjacent the outer layer superior edge and at least a portion of one or both of the pocket assembly anterior edge and pocket assembly posterior edge being coupled to the inner liner.
 6. The pair of athletic shorts of claim 1 wherein the pocket assembly being coupled in functional relation with the outer layer and the inner liner along the waistline adjacent the outer layer superior edge with the pocket assembly extending between the outer layer and the inner liner.
 7. The pair of athletic shorts of claim 1 wherein the pocket assembly being coupled in functional relation with the outer layer and the inner liner along the waistline adjacent the outer layer superior edge with the pocket assembly extending between the outer layer and the inner liner, the pocket assembly being coupled to the inner liner along at least a portion of either one or both of the pocket assembly anterior edge and pocket assembly posterior edge.
 8. The pair of athletic shorts of claim 1 wherein the pocket assembly being coupled in functional relation with the outer layer and the inner liner along the waistline adjacent the outer layer superior edge with the pocket assembly extending between the outer layer and the inner liner, the pocket assembly being coupled to the inner liner along at least a portion of either one or both of the pocket assembly anterior edge and pocket assembly posterior edge, the outer layer further comprising an outer layer opening adjacent the pocket opening of the pocket.
 9. The pair of athletic shorts of claim 1 wherein the pocket assembly being coupled in functional relation with the outer layer and the inner liner along the waistline adjacent the outer layer superior edge with the pocket assembly extending between the outer layer and the inner liner, the pocket assembly being coupled to the outer layer and the inner liner along at least a portion of one or both of the pocket assembly anterior edge and pocket assembly posterior edge, the outer layer further comprising an outer layer opening adjacent the pocket opening of the pocket.
 10. The pair of athletic shorts of claim 1 wherein the pocket assembly comprises a double pocket assembly including two pocket assemblies integrally coupled defining a continuous pocket assembly superior edge, wherein the continuous pocket assembly superior edge is coupled in functional relation with the outer layer and inner liner adjacent the outer layer superior edge.
 11. The pair of athletic shorts of claim 1 wherein the pocket is orientated on a bias away from a vertical axis so as to be substantially parallel with the anterior edge of the pocket assembly. 